The Da Vinci Disappointment

Extremely disappointing! That is the only way I know how to describe the highly anticipated Da Vinci Code film. When you see the film version of a book you've read it never seems to live up to the way things look and play out in your imagination. That has never been more the case than as with this movie. The way the story evolved in the movie was quite different than the book. Boringly so! There were many interesting things left out, which made the story somewhat hard to follow for someone who had not read the novel.

But for me the most surprising thing about the movie was how "watered-down" it was. In the novel the main characters (Robert Langdon, Leigh Teabing) were passionate about the (false) theories about Jesus. However, in the movie Langdon's character actually argues with Teabing about some of the things Teabing claims to be fact. Langdon even appears to have a glimmer of faith at the end. A faith that is not evident in the novel.

So, why does this bother me. There are two reasons.

1. I respect people who are passionate.
When someone stands true to what they believe, and does not wavier no matter the situation or the circumstance I can respect that. Even if they stand for a lie, at least they commit to it. There are far too many people in the world who are "wishy washy". The movie proves Dan Brown is one of those people. If he wasn't he would have stayed true to his writing. Brown has said he doesn't have anything to appologize for because his book is "just a work of fiction". If this is true, why doesn't the movie and the book line up. He did co-author the screen play. If the movie is the way it is because he has had a heart change, and is now trying to find true faith, I appologize.

2. People are going to wonder why the Christian community is so upset.
This watered-down version of The Da Vinci Code still presents unfounded theories about Jesus, but not with nearly the amount of vigor or distortion of history as the novel. Because of this there are going to be many, who have only seen the film, who will see Christians as just overly sensitive fanatics.

I guess it is true. You can not stand on a foundation that does not exist. You can not lean on a lie. Maybe this movie ended up the way it did because of those facts.